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President Roosevelt asks Caspar Whitney if he can send the camp chairs, and he is glad Whitney agrees with his actions toward Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-24
Rudolph Forster asks Abercrombie & Fitch to send the poles and pins that go with the tent that President Roosevelt recently ordered.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-25
Richard Harding Davis offers his thoughts on the most important elements to bring along while hiking or marching long distances, backed up by his experiences as a war correspondent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04
A photograph of a turned over wagon taken while Eleanor Butler Alexander was on vacation in and around Yellowstone Park with her mother Grace Green Alexander.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1908-1909
Theodore Roosevelt describes for his daughter Ethel Roosevelt the heavy rain at his camp near Santiago, Cuba, and how a bad night storm ruined his hammock and tent. He also describes the birds in the area and a particularly funny little lizard.
1898-07-15
Dining tent used during Theodore Roosevelt’s post-presidential African safari.
1909-1910
President Roosevelt discusses various matters regarding provisions, hunting rifles, and ammunition for his upcoming African safari. He would like them to be sent to Mombasa and Alfred E. Pease’s ranch for him to pick up when he arrives. Roosevelt informs Edward North Buxton that he has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage his caravan; this will allow Roosevelt to focus on hunting and not on the logistics of the caravan. While Roosevelt and his son Kermit are staying with Pease, the manager and taxidermists and naturalists that are coming along can stay nearby. Roosevelt discusses the areas he would like to hunt and the animals that he hopes to shoot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton to order boots for himself and his son Kermit. He expresses concern about whether the upcoming safari will be good for Kermit’s health. He is very interested in the letter from Ernst Karl Hoyos-Sprinzenstein and wonders if it would be possible for him to visit. Roosevelt would like to discuss hunting with him. Roosevelt increasingly believes that he will do most of his hunting in British East Africa and the Nile so that he can spend more time hunting and less time traveling.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-01
President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
President Roosevelt discusses whether to employ locals or Englishmen as safari guides on his upcoming trip. He has started engaging shikaris, and notes that he would rather not employ white guides unless absolutely necessary. Roosevelt has amended the list of supplies that Frederick Courteney Selous suggested he bring, cutting down on alcohol and luxuries. He discuses the itinerary and logistics of the trip, particularly in relation to ensuring that he is able to shoot good specimens for the Smithsonian Institute, which can easily be transported.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-20
President Roosevelt updates Alfred E. Pease on his thoughts about various supplies that he needs for his upcoming safari. He explains that he only wants to hunt in British East Africa and Nyanza, and then travel from Gondokoro to Khartoum. The animal he wants to get the most is a lion. He has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage his caravan so that he is free to enjoy his trip. He intends to hire William C. Judd unless Pease objects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
President Roosevelt is happy to have Lawn & Alder outfit his entire safari and send the supplies to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He is particularly glad to hear that they can get certain provisions that he wanted, such as Boston baked beans. After much thought, he agrees with Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion that he should hire a white man to manage the caravan, and will take Selous’s suggestion of William C. Judd.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton to procure the list of his provisions from Lawn and Alder, and to add whatever Buxton thinks is necessary. He trusts Buxton’s judgment. He also discusses his rifle preferences, but yields to Buxton’s recommendation for what rifle will be best for hunting in Africa. He is pleased that he was asked to deliver the Romanes Lecture at Oxford, which gives him a good excuse to go to England and see old friends there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-31
President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton if it is possible for the same firm that made his boots to make a pair of mosquito boots for himself and his son Kermit. Buxton should get a list of the provisions that Lawn and Alder are providing for Roosevelt, and has permission to make changes. Alfred E. Pease’s description of his ranch is very tempting for Roosevelt, and he is excited to hunt there. Roosevelt is trying to minimize the loss of ammunition that he is having shipped for the hunt, and will try to think of the safari as a holiday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
President Roosevelt has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage the caravan on his African safari, despite objections from Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt asks Selous to hire either R. J. Cunninghame or William C. Judd for the job if they are available. He provides a list of provisions that he would like to bring on the trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt discusses the naturalists and taxidermists, including Edgar Alexander Mearns, who will accompany him on his African safari. He assures Edward North Buxton that he will make it clear that neither the white safari guide, nor the other white naturalists on the trip will do any hunting. He and Kermit will be the only two guns. He hopes that if they can get some samples close to the railway lines, the naturalists can take the trophies to Nairobi and preserve them there, while Roosevelt and Kermit take a longer trip, similar to J. H. Patterson’s, by themselves. Roosevelt is concerned that he will not be in good enough physical condition to have a successful trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23
President Roosevelt has decided to follow Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to head his African safari, despite objections from Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt would like Selous to hire either R. J. Cunninghame or William C. Judd for the job, if possible. He provides a list of the provisions that he would like to bring on the trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt asks Frederick Courteney Selous about outfitting his upcoming African Safari, including what types of jams and other preserved food to bring; what types of tents and camping equipment is best; and what kind of camp cooking equipment is required. Roosevelt asks if he will need colored glasses or a helmet, and which of these items should be sent from the United States, and which from England. Roosevelt supposes that anything he forgets can be acquired at Nairobi or Mombasa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-21
President Roosevelt has been astounded by the public’s reaction to the fact that Nelson Miles was not singled out for praise upon his retirement. The War Department is working well, except for Henry Corbin who is trying to get Roosevelt to associate with people more than he wishes. Kermit is enjoying the camping equipment Root sent him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-03
J. Foster of the Army & Navy Cooperative Society confirms Edward North Buxton’s order of water bottles for President Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari and notes that there will be room for additional food in the shipment. Foster assures that Roosevelt’s alterations will be accommodated and requests the date that North would like the goods to arrive in Mombasa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-15